Cessna A185F accident near Avon, Maine, May 12, 2026
On May 12, 2026 at about 2:58 pm local time, a 1980 Cessna A185F, registered N61368, was substantially damaged in an accident near Avon, Maine. It was a public-use flight (state) under public-use (government) rules. 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2026 · about 2:58 pm local time
- Place
- Avon, Maine · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna A185F, built 1980 · all A185Fs on the register
- Registration
- N61368 · registry record · serial 18504159
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (state) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 12, 2026, about 1058 eastern daylight time, a Cessna A185F airplane, N61368, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Avon, Maine. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was owned by the state of Maine and operated as a public use aircraft. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, Maine Warden Service reported that the flight originated from a seaplane base on Crystal Lake, Harrison, ME, and repositioned to Rangeley Lake to load fish for the purpose of stocking Schoolhouse Pond, a local body of water. The airplane was equipped with floats and two fish pods, one mounted on each float which were electronically dumped via pilot activated instrument panel mounted controls. Following the repositioning, the airplane’s right pod was loaded with about 12 gallons of water and 42 lbs. of fish. According to preliminary ADS-B data from the FAA, the airplane departed Rangely Lake at about 1030 and proceeded to the southeast for about 21 miles to Schoolhouse Pond. The airplane continued about 1.5 miles east of the pond, turned left and flew along the pond’s eastern shore in a southwesterly direction. The final data points showed the airplane in a right turn about 400 yards southwest of Schoolhouse Pond. The wreckage was located on rising terrain in a densely wooded area about 400 yards southwest of Schoolhouse Pond. The airplane came to rest in a nose down attitude and all the major components of the airplane were accounted for at the accident site. The floats remained attached to the fuselage and exhibited leading-edge impact damage. Fish from the stocking operation were observed in the right fish pod and on the ground adjacent to the right fish pod. There was an odor of fuel observed at the accident site, and numerous tree branches near the main wreckage exhibited angular separations with paint transfer marks at their separation areas. The empennage was relatively undamaged. The wings exhibited leading-edge impact damage, were displaced forward and partially separated from the fuselage. The pilot and copilot seats were impact damaged and the seat rails were deformed. The instrument panel was fragmented. The fuel selector was positioned to BOTH, and fuel line continuity was established from the fuel tanks to the gascolator. The flaps were noted in the 20° position, and flight control continuity was established from the cockpit area to all the flight control surfaces. The engine was partially separated from the firewall. The three-bladed aluminum propeller was impact separated from the engine and remained attached to the separated crankshaft flange. Leading-edge damage was noted to the propeller blades. The wreckage was retained for further examination.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- 452240 during 452
- 452241 during 452
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Department Of Inland Fisheries And Wildlife
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Departed from: Rangeley ME at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 13 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 43°C, dew point 21°C
- Altimeter: 30.059999 inHg
- Observation at 11:00 am from 8B0, 21 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR K8B0 121455Z AUTO 29013G25KT 10SM BKN048 BKN055 06/M06 A3006 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA26FA205.